The gospel is the most compelling, the most fascinating, the most incomprehensibly wonderful news ever. So how come we don't preach or teach or talk like it is?
Fog-and-lasers churches don't trust that the good news is compelling. Sturm und drang churches don't act like it is.
It is true that the cross is an offense, a stumbling block, "foolishness." And it is true that attractional-ism is an imbalanced mode of ministry.
But gospel-driven churches ought to be attractive. They ought to radiate joy. Their preachers should be self-deprecating, winsome, and visibly moved by the power of the gospel. If we truly believe the good news is that good, why don't we make it sound like it is? Why do we sound bored? Angry? Disinterested? Or why do we seem excited about and interested in all sorts things other than the gospel?
This is not about tickling ears. It's about speaking and living as if we feel that the gospel is true.
5 comments:
The attractional church, whether it ever wanted to or not, ultimately ends up getting people to ask church into their hearts.
The methods end up shaping the message. In this way, the Gospel can't deliver. It's more like the "ospe"... it doesn't have a definite beginning, and the end isn't quite there... but hey, they had a great program for my kids.
The attitude reveals that the Gospel is great, sure, but what has Jesus done for us lately?
I hear people say it often "well, sure, of course" when you offer that we need to make sure not to omit the Gospel from something, but it's obvious at times that it isn't where the thinking begins, or where it ends.
Logical fallacy = False dichotomy. You can have the gospel and lasers. The difference is the gospel isn’t optional.
"You can have the gospel and lasers."
Now that there's quotable. :-)
I credit it to Jonathan Acuff - I had just listened to him speak (online) at Catalyst West before reading your thoughts on Timmy Brister's blog, which brought me here.
And that isn't to say I'm a fan of lasers, though I do see value in the larger point that you can have a quality band with a stage and lights for instance and still rock the gospel as well. The problem is that some don't rock the gospel, they just rock, and I can get that at a bar, it doesn't bring salvation.
Now if only there were a way to combine church services and laser tag... hmmmm.
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